Welcome to Willow Class

  Classteachers: Miss J. Dandy/Mrs. L. Dhanak

2025-26

Welcome to Willow

Week Beginning 19.1.26

This week, we have explored another story featuring a valiant, courageous, solo, solitary explorer!  We have compared this character to Little One, who we met in our previous story.  It is wonderful to hear the children share their own thoughts and opinions and to know that they are valid.  Whenever you notice your child looking at someone when they speak to them, or turning their body to face who they are talking to...or even asking a question such as 'Do you agree?' or 'What do you think?', do praise them for this, as these are just a few of our first oracy targets.  We are very excited to develop this oracy framework across the school, starting with our Birch and Willow superstars!

In maths, we have been checking that we are secure in our knowledge of one more or less, as well as counting out a given number of objects and matching numerals to arrangements of objects to 5.  We are looking forward to developing this knowledge over the next few weeks, looking at larger numbers!

We were especially proud of Raph and Enda this week, who were confident enough to stand up in assembly and ask questions of two Colchester United football players.  Standing in their own space wasn't enough for these two public speakers...they marched straight to the front and stood between the guests to ask their questions!  Amazing confident speaking, boys!  

Subitising - Why It Is Important

A video which clearly explains the concept we are instilling in Maths at school.  The KIRFs (Key Instant Recall Facts) your child has brought home are also included in this page's attachments and run beautifully alongside the message you will hear in the video.  

Support for Phonics at home

Please CLICK HERE for videos showing the sounds we teach in Autumn and Spring terms.  There are also really handy guides to accompany what the children will be learning in school and might be useful for when the children bring home decodable reading books.